Perambulator



Oct. 20, 1970 STRANDHAGEN 3,534,975

PERAMBULATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 28, 1968.

I NVEN TOR. 00D I'RFM/D H06 E/l/ 1970 o. STRANDHAGEN PERAMBULATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 28, 1968 INVENTOR. 01 D WWW/D #965 m mv Arrows us Patented Oct. 20, 1970 3,534,975 PERAMBULATOR Odd Slrandhagen, Orsta, Norway, assignor to Grepa g Mjelva Fabrikker, A/S, Orsta, Norway Filed Oct. 28, 1968, Ser. No. 771,011 Int. Cl. 1362b 7/00 US. Cl. 280-4738 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In a perambulator or the like a frame formed by two spaced lateral lower frame members, the ends of which are bent upwardly back against themselves. Axle means interconnect the lower frame members. The ends, or U- shaped handle and bumper members connected to the ends, extend freely past one another to complete the frame and to provide the necessary resiliency.

The present invention relates to perambulators, dolls prams or the like of the kind having an underframe comprising two side frame members of rod, tubular or similar material. The side frame members are rigidly connected with one another at the under portion thereof by at least two axle means. The front and rear ends of each frame member are bent back and over themselves to form the handle and carriage body holding portions.

A baby carriage or the like conventionally comprises a supporting frame having an under frame with lateral frame members and an upper frame linked at the base thereof to the under frame. In the known embodiments, the side portions of the upper frame comprise rods or the like crossing each other and fixedly or pivotably connected with one another at the crossing points. The portions of the upper frame are connected by link elements or the like to upper portions of the under frame. The upper frame is connected together by cross members, U- shaped members or the like, and is fitted with mountings to fix thereon a carriage body or bag.

This conventional embodiment is known in various shapes, all having the common feature that the chassis consists of a large number of small parts which must be separately produced and then assembled. Movable parts require lubricating and maintenance to avoid rubbing, wearing and noise when in use.

An object of this invention is to avoid the above-mentioned disadvantages and to provide a novel frame of the kind referred to but which has few components and is thus simple and inexpensive to produce. A second object of this invention is to provide a frame structure of such strength that it can be subjected to rough handling without damage.

These objects have been obtained in an embodiment of the invention by bending the end portions of each lateral frame member forwardly or backwardly, respectively, and upwardly to pass one another without being connected to another at the crossing point which remains movable due to the resiliency of the frame members.

In a second embodiment of the invention, the bent frame members are connected in pairs at the front and rear by U-shaped frame members, the parallel arms of which on either side of the under frame cross one another without being connected to one another so that the crossing point is movable due to the resiliency of the frame members.

Transverse connections may be provided at the front and the rear of the device extending between the lateral frame members and allowing for the mounting of a perambulator bag or carriage body. The lateral frame members can be manufactured of rod material and/or tubular material with the members being adapted to be inserted into one another at their connections so that the under frame may be partly disassembled.

It will be noted that an important feature of the invention is that the crossing points between the free ends of the lateral frame members, or the extensions thereof, are not fixed but movable. In this Way the lateral frame members provide resilient or springy elements allowing a rocking movement of the carriage body about an imaginary transverse axis extending through the movable crossing points.

The means for accomplishing the foregoing objects and other advantages, which will be apparent to those skilled in the art, are set forth in the following specification and claims, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings dealing with two embodiments of the present invention. Reference is made now to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of one embodiment in which the free ends of the under frame members extend past one another; and

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment in which U-shaped frame members are connected to the under frame but not to each other.

Referring to FIG. 1, the inventive perambulator chassis comprises two lateral frame members 1 and 2 which are connected with one another through fixed axle means 3 and 4 or by means of tubular supports housing the wheel axles. The end portions 5 and 7 or 6 and 8, respectively, of each frame member 1 and 2 are bent back over the under horizontal portion of the frame member and extended rearwardly or forwardly, respectively, and upwardly to cross one another at points 9 and 10, respectively. However, these end portions are not mutually connected at the crossing points. The end portions 5 and 6 of the lateral frame members 1 and 2 are connected to one another at their rearward-extremities by a U- shaped handle 12 having at its lower end a transverse rod 14. The tubular handle 12 is set onto the free end portions of the frame members 5 and 6. The front end portions of the frame members 7 and 8 are connected through a transverse rod 16. The rods 14 and 16 serve to suspend a baby bag 11 or a carriage body as shown in phantom in FIG. 2. It will be noted also that the front frame member ends 7 and 8 may be connected through a U-shaped frame member 13 as shown in FIG. 2.

In FIG. 2 a similar support frame is shown, however, with substantially shorter frame member ends 5 and 7, 6 and 8. These free ends of the frame members are connected with one another through a U-shaped handle 12 and a U-shaped shock absorber member 13, each of which has parallel arms crossing one another at 9 and 10, respectively. The parallel arms of the handle 12 and member 13 are connected through transverse rods 14 and 15 and the carriage body 11 bears on its underside four books 17 to be hooked onto the rods 14 and 15 for mounting the carriage.

The handle 12 can be made in two parts hinged together to be collapsed as shown at 18 and 19.

The frame can be manufactured of tubes, rods or the like. Tubes and rods having a circular cross section are preferred. The material can be steel, glass fiber reinforced resin or any light metal.

The slope of the bent end portions of the lateral frame members as well as the length of the bent end portions may be varied in accordance with the resiliency required and the size of the carriage, e.g., the slope can be very weak at the start so that the end portions extend initially almost parallel to the main portion of the frame members before sloping upwardly. Such factors as simple manufacture, packaging and transportwill normally determine whether the crossing point between the lateral frame member portions should be located between the detachable proper.

The frame members may be assembled by a simple force fit, by ball and detent means, by nuts and bolts, or by any other suitable means of assembly.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms 'without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

What is claimed is:

1. In a perambulator, doll carriage or the like a frame having two spaced lateral lower frame members, axle means connecting said frame members with one another at their lower portions, each said frame member having front and rear end portions bent back over themselves and continuing rearwardly and forwardly, respectively, and extending upwardly past one another at a crossing point, said crossing point being movable in a substantially vertical plane due to the resiliency of said frame members and the absence of interconnection between said front and rear end portions, said end portions of the frame members being movable relatively to one another at said movable crossing point.

2. A perambulator frame or the like according to claim 1, further comprising transverse frame members at the front and rear of said lateral frame members for suspending a carriage body therefrom.

3. A perambulator frame or the like according to claim 1, further comprising first and second U-shaped frame members respectively connected to the front and rear ends of said lateral lower frame members forming a bumper and handle.

4. A perambulator frame or the like according to claim 3, wherein all said frame members are manufactured from rod and tube materials suitably shaped to be inserted into one another.

handle members or the frame members 5. In a perambulator or the like a frame having two spaced lateral lower frame members, axle means interconnecting said lower frame members at their lower portions, the front and rear ends of each said lower frame member being bent back over themselves without being connected together, first and second U-shaped frame members attached by their parallel arms to said front and rear bent ends, said parallel arms of said first and second U-shaped frame members crossing one another Without any connection therebetween, said crossing point being movable in a substantially vertical plane due to the inherent resiliency of said lower lateral frame members and the absence of connection between said U-shaped frame members, said U-shaped frame members being movable relatively to one another at said movable crossing point.

6. A perambulator frame or the like according to claim 5, further comprising transverse connections interconnecting the parallel arms of said first and second U-shaped frame members for suspending therebetween a carriage body.

7. A perambulator frame or the like according to claim 1, wherein all said frame members are formed of rod and tubular stock and inserted into one another to assemble the perambulator.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 150,894 9/1948 Smith Dl51 2,679,282 5/1954 Anderegg 297441 3,330,575 7/1967 Boudreau 280-36 BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner R. R. SONG, Assistant Examiner 

